Work unloading guide for washing machines



May 16, 1950 F. A. GERLACH I 2,508,245

WORK UNLQADING GUIDE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1948 INVENTOR FRANK A. 'GERLACH AT TORN EYS Patented May 16, 1950 WORK UNLOADING GUIDE FOR WASHING MACHINES Frank A. Gerlach, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,078

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in unloading work from a washing machine, such as is used in laundries or for dry cleaning purposes. 1

One well-known type of washing machine for the purpose includes a rotatable work agitating foraminous drum which, at the conclusion of the washing operation is elevated and moved forwardly to dump its contents into two wheeled trucks or tubs of semi-cylindrical form, which are then rolled to an extractor and, as a pair, are inserted into it for rotation to extract the liquid, thus reducing the effort and labor of handling the work.

The present invention aims to provide a washing machine of the type described with improved means for expediting and simplifying the operation of transferring the work from the Washer to the extractor tubs referred to, and for also insuring that the dumped work goes into the tubs instead of falling down between them or between the tubs and washing machine.

Another object is to provide an improved washing machine of the kind described, equipped with a work directing sill or guard below or in front of its discharge opening, as well as with a movably mounted fill or table piece, both of which serve to insure that the work will flow into the tubs and not fall outside their boundaries.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View, showing the washing machine closed, as during operation thereof, with the fill piece or table folded back out of the way; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in work discharging position, with the tubs in work receiving position.

The washing machine itself requires only brief description. It is of well-known form, typically illustrated and described in Letters Patent No. 2,203,781, granted June 11, 1940, to Frank A. Gerlach, for Control and operating mechanism for unloading washers. As shown it comprises an outer casing to having an inner washing chamber normally closed by a cover I l, and within which is mounted a rotatable foraminous work holdin drum l2 having two or more compartments, each closed by a sliding door i3. When the washing operation is concluded, drum rotation is stopped, the cover is raised, and the operating mechanism, marked generally I4, is actuated to elevate the drum and advance it to the position shown in Fig. 2. 4

The compartment doors having been opened, the load of work slides out and falls into the two tubs l5, each of semi-cylindrical form, and one of which has been placed in front of each compartment, so that they stand abreast or side by side before the machine. These tubs are of a form typically illustrated in Letters Patent No. 2,059,461, granted November 3, 1936, to Oscar W. Johnson for Removable container for extractors.

According to the present invention I provide the washing machine with a combined sill and guard member it, made of sheet metal, suitably reinforced or braced, and fastened to the machine casing in any suitable manner. This guard extends outwardly from the casing, its upper wall or surface I? sloping downwardly away from the machine, to assist in work movement across it. It also extends the full length of the cover opening and of the drum within said casin and may serve as a support for an apron member described hereinafter.

Below the sill guard, I attach to the machine frame or casing one or more abutments, shown as metal pipes, tubes or rods l8 bent to U-form, two such being shown. These limit approach of the rolling tubs toward the casing to the position shown in Fig. 2, where the straight front edge of the tub extends slightly beneath the outer edge of the sill guard above it, thus preventing any gap between tub and machine through which articles of work might drop to the floor. Also the. tubs are directly beneath the door openings or the drum compartments.

Further, I attach movably to a suitable portion of the machine frame or casing, such as to the sill or supporting member It, a fill piece or apron member 29, shown as of dropleaf form hinged at it to the front portion of the sill guard. This fill member is of special generally T-form corresponding roughly to the space between two tubs standing abreast in work receiving position. Its shank has side edges 22 curved to correspond with the curvature of one half of each of the two tubs and escape the edges of the top openings thereof, and the outer edge 23 of its head is straight and alined with the outermost boundary of the two tubs.

Normally, when the washing machine is in operation, the tubs are away and the fill piece hangs down, out of the way, as shown in Fig. 1. When the tubs are rolled into place, the dropleaf or fill piece is lifted and lies in horizontal position, supported on the tubs, as in Fig. 2. Accordingly,

when the washer drum is now elevated and advanced to the work discharging position all gaps are shielded or guarded. The work slides out and down along the inclined sill and thence into the tubs. Anything that misses the mark lands on the fill piece and is readily pushed into the tub opening.

The apparatus is simple and inexpensive and insures complete transfer of all work without requiring other attention than the lifting of the which the drum extends beyond the front wall of the casing with its charging opening presented downwardly, means for so moving the drum,-supporting means extending along the casing below Said'opening at a level where it lies above the tops of two semi-cylindrical tubs standing abreast 'before themachine with their curved walls facing outwardly therefrom, and apron guard'means of shelf form and of general T-shape with curved side edges hinged upon said supporting means and adapted to conform to and cover the space between the curved outer walls of two tubs so standing, said apron guard means being adapted to be swung either to an inoperative position or to a horizontal operating position with its curved side edges overlying the adjacent semi-cylindrical walls of the tubs for covering said space and thus preventing work which is discharged from the drum charging opening from dropping into said space.

FRANK A. GERLACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 928,062 Moletor ,July'1-3, '1909 1,868,772 .Singer July 26, 1932 1,979,408 Power Nov. 6, 1934 2,112,225 Balzer Mar. 29, 1938 2,203,781 Gerlach -s June 11,1940 2,291,463 Gerlaoh -June 28, 1942 2,296,265 Russell Sept. 22, 1942 

